Imec at Holst Centre received a USD 5 million grant from the Gates Foundation to advance photonic-based speckle sensing for vital sign monitoring in lower- and middle-income countries. The two-year grant supports the development of a robust sensor capable of accurately measuring vital signs, like blood pressure and heart rate, across different skin tones and operating reliably in settings with limited connectivity and medical infrastructure.  

In low- and middle-income countries, high maternal and child mortality is linked to limited access to reliable health services, which highlights both the urgency of this challenge and the opportunity to translate mature research into scalable solutions with global relevance. The foundation grant will allow imec to mature this technology for practical healthcare applications with the potential to make a meaningful difference in these regions. 

From research to application 
Two complementary application paths will be developed under the grant. First, a wearable, contact-based sensor to continuously monitor blood pressure variations will be developed. This application is specifically aimed at supporting the early detection and monitoring of blood pressure elevations, related to pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. The second application path will explore a contactless implementation for quick vitality screening in situations where ease of use, hygiene, or limited access to trained medical staff are critical, for example for children at daycare or school. 

Speckle sensing, a photonic technology with widespread use 

Photonics refers to the use of light to sense, measure, and transmit information. Speckle sensing is a novel technology that uses the unique properties of laser light to measure vital signs such as heart rate, heart-rate variability, respiration rate, or even blood pressure. A laser illuminates the skin, resulting in interference that is captured by an image sensor and used to extract health data.  A key motivation for advancing speckle sensing is its suitability for use across diverse populations and care environments. Due to its unique properties, it is less sensitive to variations in skin color and offers the potential to measure absolute blood pressure without cuff calibration. These characteristics contribute to robust performance in situations in which regular cuff calibration, stable connectivity, or advanced medical infrastructure cannot be assumed. 

Supported by PhotonDelta 

The speckle sensing research at imec originated in 2018 as PhD research at imec at Holst Centre. In 2022, it was further developed into an R&D program, supported by funding from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs through the first phase of the PhotonDelta National Growth Fund. Currently, imec at Holst Centre is involved in several clinical and validation studies within EU-funded research consortia. The foundations grant now enables the R&D centre to move to clinically relevant diagnostic solutions, with the potential to reach the market and create a societal impact.